Generation of a random two-state waveform from a semiconductor microplasma

A random-waveform generator has been constructed using microplasma fluctuations in a reverse biased p¿n junction. The output consists of a waveform which alternates at random between two states. The times spent in each state are independent and are governed by two parameters¿one for each state. The ratio of these parameters and the mean transition rate may be controlled independently over a wide range.